Shawheen khorshidian graphic designer Oktane18 pushed boundaries with the bold Beyond theme, uniting design, messaging, and experience into a forward-looking conference — featuring President Barack Obama as keynote speaker.png

Beyond: Conference Branding Oktane 2018

Honestly, ever since this 2018 event, it feels like EVERY conference copied our style and theme. For Oktane18, Okta’s flagship customer conference, the leadership team was ready to take a bold step forward. Departing from past bright and vibrant conference themes, we introduced Beyond, a concept about vision, distance, and seeing possibility where others see limits. I led the creative development of the theme and brand identity, weaving gradients, dark backgrounds, and motion graphics into a design system that felt both futuristic and inspiring. This forward-looking theme framed keynotes, messaging, and the overall event experience, highlighted by President Barack Obama as the keynote speaker.

Senior Designer

Butchershop Creative

San Francisco, CA

  • Conference branding featuring gradients and motion graphics in Okta’s Beyond theme.

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  • Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 with the Beyond gradient theme and dark futuristic visuals.

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  • Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 with the Beyond gradient theme and dark futuristic visuals.

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  • Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 with the Beyond gradient theme and dark futuristic visuals.

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The Process

Creative Direction and design for Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 - concept art and theme development

Theme Development, Messaging, & Storytelling: Crafted theme concept of distance, possibility, and clarity for keynote speeches and marketing materials.

Visual Identity with darker backgrounds with gradient overlays, a bold departure from the bright, vibrant tones of their company brand.

Design Execution: Produced print, digital, and motion design systems for signage, stage graphics, and conference materials.

Collaborative Leadership: Worked closely with Okta’s leadership team to ensure the theme resonated across content, design, and onstage experience.

Creative Direction and design for Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 - concept art and theme development
Creative Direction and design for Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 - concept art and theme development
Creative Direction and design for Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 - concept art and theme development

Event signage and identity for Oktane18.

Event signage and print materials showcasing the new dark background identity for Oktane18.
Oktane18 Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 with the Beyond gradient theme and dark futuristic visuals.
Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 with the Beyond gradient theme and dark futuristic visuals.
Event signage attendee experience booth and photo wall print materials identity for Oktane18.

President Barack Obama at Oktane18 with Todd McKinnon

Introducing President Barack Obama

Oktane18 Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 with the Beyond gradient theme and dark futuristic visuals.
President Barack Obama delivering the keynote speech at Oktane18 conference brand identity system and theme
Event signage attendee experience booth and photo wall print materials identity for Oktane18.
Conference branding featuring gradients and Keynote stage design for Oktane18 with the Beyond gradient theme and dark futuristic visuals.
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